Also available as Suthep, das Militär und der Schutz der Monarchie (German).
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of keeping the Democrat Party in power Suthep Thaugsuban is interviewed in the Bangkok Post (28 November 2009: “Suthep warns of red shirts’ ‘complex’ goals”).
On red shirts, Suthep implies republicanism: “I believe the red shirt movement is much more complicated than meets the eye…. [T]here are people in the Thaksin camp who want to change the country’s administration using Thaksin’s money…. Thai people have to be aware that this movement does not aim only to topple the government. Their goal is more elaborate than that. The people should wait and see.”
Suthep says that the government is fortunate in having the armed forces commanders on-side: “The government and the armed forces are on good terms. I’ve worked closely with the military leaders. They are democratic. Their goal is to protect the constitutional monarchy. The government’s goal is also to protect the monarchy and democracy. The military supports us fully.”
There’s a lot in that statement. That Suthep believes the military is “democratic” suggests that he is clueless about the concept himself. Just think about the past few years – a coup in 2006, engineering a regressive constitution, mutinying against an elected government, gross human rights abuse against illegal migrants and in the deep south, and repressing political opponents.
What about the claim that the military fully supports the government? Wishful thinking? The Bangkok Post (28 November 2009: “Ex-soldiers berate Prem”) has a report on 6 ” retired senior military officers [who] have joined the opposition Puea Thai Party…”. These officers might be retired, but they probably reflect schisms in the military more broadly.
One surprising aspect of this report is their blunt statements that “Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda is partly to blame for the deep-rooted division in Thai society.” Former chief of staff of the Lop Buri Special Warfare Command Lt. Gen. Udom Ketprom said: “I hate Gen Prem.
Suthep can’t admit to being worried about factions in the military, and the Democrat Party and the queen’s musketeers are trying to ensure their control into the future by managing promotions.
